Police Expect More Arrests After Drug Raid Closes Bar

DELAND — Police have arrested 18 residents since closing a DeLand bar Friday night during an undercover drug investigation, and more arrests are expected this week.

The operation, the largest in the city's history, focused on The Rose Room, 223 W. Voorhis Ave., a popular DeLand bar. Police say they used an undercover agent to buy about $2,000 worth of cocaine between May and September. Police officers, including SWAT teams, closed the bar on Friday

DeLand police Lt. A.J. Elliot said the arrests took place over the weekend and that nine more people are expected to be taken into custody soon. Those arrested and the charges are:

-- Alton McCall, 48, 223 W. Voorhis Ave.; one count of selling and delivering cocaine, two counts of selling cocaine and three counts of possessing cocaine; bail, $25,000. McCall, who owns The Rose Room, also had his liquor license suspended by officials from the state Divsion of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

-- Dwight McKinney, 38, 723 S. Stone St.; one count of selling and delivering cocaine, two counts of possessing cocaine, one count of selling cocaine, one count of selling counterfeit drugs and one count of grand theft; bail, $30,000.

-- Willie Norwood, 25, 435 Primrose Circle; one count of selling and delivering cocaine, two counts of possessing cocaine, one count of selling and developing hydromorphine, one count of possessing hydromorphine, one count of selling counterfeit drugs, one count of grand theft, one count of selling marijuana, one count of extortion and one count of using a firearm in commission of a felony; bail, $45,000.

Police say they also arrested four people who were not part of the undercover operation but who were found in possession of drugs during the busts. They are: Janice Culpepper, 32, 723 S. Stone St., possessing cocaine and marijuana, with bail at $2,000; Mellie Baron, 48, 800 Longview Ave., possessing cocaine and marijuana, with bail at $1,500; Darryl Benten, 23, possessing cocaine, with bail at $1,000; Ben Watts, 23, 475 W. Pennsylvania Ave., possessing cocaine, with bail at $1,000.